If walls could talk, we'd be dying to hear what Melissa McCarthy's would say. The talented comedian shared an Instagram video in a gorgeous pink and green raspberry-patterned dress standing in front of a leafy green wallpapered wall. Though the dress is beautiful, we are in love with the wallpaper.
McCarthy's wallpaper idea showcases doodly black lines forming into bright green, lily-pad-like leaves on a white background. Its history is almost as interesting as its look. Melissa McCarthy's playful pattern was developed in 2002 by Swedish designer Anna Danielsson for the iconic Finnish lifestyle brand Marimekko. Since 1951, Marimekko has been renowned for its original prints and patterns. Known as the 'Bottna' print, this lily pad pattern celebrates the spirit of Art Nouveau and points to the designer's concern for the natural world.
In addition to its fascinating origin, the wallpaper trend on McCarthy's walls has intriguing implications for the future of maximalist design. We've discussed at length the rejection of minimalist design in recent years. For instance, Dayna Isom Johnson, Etsy's trend expert predicted a rise in lived in design driven by 'longing for a simpler, pre-social media era.'
By uplifting Art Noveau style, McCarthy's walls follow this turn. The Art Noveau style became popular in the 1880s as part of the Arts and Crafts movement. The style is inspired by the natural world, incorporating motifs like floral motifs, curves, and asymmetry. Though the wallpaper is inspired by the spirity of this design style, it does not adopt it wholesale.
Jennifer Ebert, design expert and digital editor at Homes & Gardens says: 'While Melissa McCarthy's walls take inspiration from the Art Noveau period, the colors of the print are quite contemporary. This print is also much more minimalist than what we'd traditionally see as an 'Art Noveau' print. Together, these factors exemplify the way that current design trends often seize on what's interesting about an older style, but also make it modern.'
She continues, 'This is something that Marimekko tends to do quite well, but we also see the trend across the design space. The popularity of transitional styles rises as our interest in these older looks like Art Noveau and Regencycore increases.'
This gorgeous light green, black, and white fabric makes the perfect art noveau addition to your space. It can be used to upholster furniture, for throw pillows, or could be made into a cotton wallpaper with the right specialist.
If you're looking for a simpler iteration of the wallpaper used by Melissa McCarthy, this black and white version from Etsy gives the pattern a sleek and sophisticated feel.
Whether its Melissa McCarthy's home or your own, learning about the origin of specific patterns or design styles offers a broader perspective as trends change. The more styles you know, the easier it is to figure out what you like.
